OMM Redaksiyası
The co-pilot suspected of trying to hijack a “Flydubai” flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv may have intended to target Ben Gurion Airport, according to an Israeli official and a source familiar with the matter, CNN reported.
Hamam al-Hammami was restrained after allegedly attacking the captain, Smit Machchhar. The captain and several passengers intervened and regained control of the aircraft, the report said.
Israel is receiving updates from the United Arab Emirates, the official and the source said. They added that the investigation was still at an early stage and that questions remained about al-Hammami’s intentions.
It was unclear why al-Hammami allegedly attacked the captain while the plane was over Saudi airspace if he intended to target an airport in Israel. The UAE is leading the investigation into the attempted hijacking of flight FZ1073, including efforts to establish the suspect’s motive and how he passed security measures in two countries.
Israel’s Channel 12 News first reported that Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv may have been the intended target.
CNN reported on Sunday that the suspect probably acted alone. Israel was not aware of any links to a terrorist organization that had trained, funded or organized the attack, according to the report.
UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot had tried to seize control of the plane by attacking a colleague with a crash axe, equipment carried on most aircraft. Al Shamsi described the attempted hijacking as a “terrorist act.”
